Development of a Short Self-Report Disability Questionnaire for Health Conditions

For use in mental epidemiological survey research, a short self-report questionnaire measuring current disability is needed to assess the severity of health symptoms of respondents. A questionnaire, measuring current disability at the somatic, mental, and social domains in the environments of work, family (social) life, and leisure time was made along guidelines issued at the 54th World Health Assembly regarding the acceptance of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This article presents the reliability and validity of the Self-Report Disability Questionnaire (SRDQ). A short self-report questionnaire was designed and completed by an adult population sample of a Dutch health region, participating in a mental health survey. The SRDQ measures current disability independent from disorder entity. The data show good reliability. Study outcomes confirm the validity of the SRDQ. Positive correlations were found between the score on the SRDQ and amount of medical and mental health consumption, as well as evidence for divergent validity. Positive correlations emerged with the number of symptoms on various mental health measures and psychiatric comorbidity. Nonretired respondents dependent on social services, elderly respondents, and low-educated respondents are populations commonly at risk, scoring higher on the SRDQ than other populations. The SRDQ is usable both as a disability screener and as an effect instrument for treatments and community interventions because its reliability and validity are found to be good. The combined use of the SRDQ with specific symptom screeners downsizes the proportion of persons who actually need help.